Lake City News

Lake City Police Department's
K-9 Officer "Trooper" found dead

Lake City, FL (Posted July 23, 2011 07:03 am)

By Stew Lilker

Photo: origin unknown

Another K-9 Officer goes down from purported "heat
exhaustion" in Columbia County, Florida. Two years ago
it was the Sheriff's K-9 Officer Brutus. This time it
was the Lake City Police Department's K-9 "Trooper,"
handled by Police Officer Kevin Johns.

According to the police press release, which was
distributed by the LCPD at 09:50 pm yesterday evening,
K-9 Officer Trooper was off duty and found dead by his
handler 01:10 pm yesterday afternoon, at home in his
kennel, one hour and forty minutes after PO Johns left
him alone. The report does not explain what was meant by
a "kennel."

The report claims that when Officer Johns left K-9
Officer Trooper in his kennel at 11:30 am, the dog was
fine. When Officer Johns returned home, he found Trooper
dead.

Then, according to LCPD Shaw's press release, Officer
Johns "made appropriate contact to the administrative
staff of the Police Department to report the incident."
It would appear this means he called the police, who
then apparently responded to Officer John's home and
took the dead K-9 officer to an as yet unknown
veterinarian.

The press release claims "the autopsy revealed the
cause of death was due to heat exhaustion."

Who was K-9 Officer Trooper

According to the LCPD, Trooper was a 7 year old
Malinois K-9. He had served as a K-9 Officer for the
Lake City Police Department since January 2010. K-9
Officer Trooper was certified in the detection of drugs
and narcotics in October of 2010 and made numerous cases
since that time.

Epilogue

If housed in a properly constructed dog run with
proper ventilation, shade and water, K-9 Officer Trooper
or any other dog should not die from heat exhaustion or
heat stroke.

Police K-9 Officers cost anywhere from $6000 up to
$25,000.

Does the culture of the Columbia County's good ol'
boys allow the LCPD or the Sheriff's Office to fairly
and truthfully investigate and then tell the truth?

Was Trooper murdered by drug dealers? What does the
LCPD mean by a "kennel?"

Failure to properly care for K-9 Officer Trooper in
such a way that caused his death, in the civilized
world, would be felony animal cruelty, punishable by
hard time.

The press release was received by the Observer at
09:50 pm. At 09:55 pm the Observer called Officer Shaw's
cell phone.

Deaths of Trooper and Brutus
need to be investigated by ASPCA and/or HSUS.

Why were the autopsies not done by forensic
veterinarians at UF College of Veterinary Medicine?

After years of trying to motivate the Columbia County
Commissioners and the CCSO to seriously and
professionally investigate animal cruelty and neglect
and abide by Florida's excellent animal welfare laws, I
am not surprised that two K-9 Officers in 2 years have
perished because of their handlers irresponsibility and
incompetence. Is it not the ultimate betrayal of a
brother law enforcement officer willing to sacrifice
life and limb to protect their partner to be left to die
a horrendous and anguishing death from heat exhaustion?
Perhaps the worst betrayal is for the guilty partner's
supervisors to cover up and shrug off the tragedy?

The only remedy is for a full blown investigation of the
incidents by experienced national animal welfare groups.
I would also suggest that CCSO and LCPD be banned from
having K-9 units and the K-9 officers currently in their
care and custody be sold to responsible law enforcement
agencies with K-9 units immediately before any more of
these loyal and dedicated officers die appalling deaths
at the hands of their incompetent fellow officers.

This the second K9 to die in Columbia County. This does
not happen elsewhere with out a full and independent
investigation of this matter. Considering the history of
this sheriff dept. with animals , and now Lake City, I
believe there better be a full investigation for finding
the facts on the poor dog and the money aspect as well.
Stephen H.

The
news about the death of K-9 Trooper left me, a dog
person (trainer, former breeder, exhibitor in obedience,
breed, and agility, with more than five decades of
experience) wondering what the public is not being told
about the circumstances of the dog's death.

This dog, if American bred and obtained, would have cost
somewhere around $10,000 to purchase and train for
police work. If the dog had been imported from Europe,
the cost could have been closer to $20,000. Plain old
common sense would dictate that a valuable commodity --
much less your working partner -- be provided with the
necessities to keep him safe during this extreme heat
wave.

Temperatures in the Lake City area, like so much of the
country, have been averaging about 97 degrees a day,
with a heat index adding as much as 10 degrees. It has
been all over the news that pets should be brought
inside whenever possible, and that they be provided with
adequate shade, plenty of cool water, and be observed to
make sure they do not go into heat exhaustion, which
occurs when the dog's body cannot adequately cool
itself. Heat exhaustion leads to heat stroke, which can
claim a dog's life.

It is difficult to believe that a trained handler such
as Trooper's partner, would be ignorant of these basics.
In fact, it would have been expected that Johns would
have provided a kiddie pool of water for Trooper to get
into, or a water mister on the kennel, which would have
reduced the air temperature about 10 degrees. In
addition there are canopy tents for shade, cooling beds,
cooling collars and vests, and the good old basic: the
fan. This begs the question: why wasn't the dog left in
an air conditioned house, crated if necessary, while the
officer left the premise?

There are lot of unanswered questions. It is entirely
possible that Kevin Johns provided adequate shade and
water for his partner. Is it possible that Trooper did
not expire due to the heat? And why wait until the 11 pm
news cycle to release the story? Maybe I've been reading
too many mysteries, but something doesn't jive about
what the public has been told.

I was
greatly disturbed to read of the tragic and senseless
deaths of two K-9 Officers in Columbia County, Florida.
Although they are highly trained, K-9 Officers are still
akin to children in that they depend on their handlers
for their total well being, safety and security as kids
rely on their parents. Are the living areas for K-9
Officers in Columbia County certified for their safety
in all weather conditions? If not, they should be. Is
there a hot weather safety awareness program in place
for K-9 Handlers? Does it include the dangers faced by
the off duty K-9 Officer? I hope topics such as these
will be properly addressed and reported to the citizens
of your area in order that they may be assured that
their tax dollars are not being wasted through the
needless and negligent deaths of their K-9 Officers.

A civilian could face fines and jail for the
mistreatment of their pet in such a manner. Will Law
Enforcement K-9 Handlers be held accountable to the
public for causing the death of a K-9 in their care?

Animals due not have autopsys as stated. They have a
necrotopsy. Both take time to complete and time to get
the results back. As stated in the press release, the
dog passed away on Friday and an Autopsy was conducted
and completed on Friday. I am calling B/S on this.
I can assure you that there is more to this story then
what is being told.

I can't believe this wonderful dog who served his
master and the community so well, was left to die in the
heat of outdoors when he should have been inside. This
is gross neglect and stupidity and while I am a great
supporter of Police and pray for them and the difficult
and dangerous job they have, I can't believe this human
Officer treated his K-9 friend with such cruelty as
deserves punishment.

Trooper's handler should never be given another K-9. He
is either too stupid or too heartless to deserve such a
caring and fine friend. Lord Byron said that dogs have
all the virtues of man and none of his vices...Trooper
would never have left his handler out in the heat in a
"cage" to suffer and die.

I don't like this officer and have no respect for him.
He is heartless, cruel and apparently dumb.
Dottie

We all have either owed a dog or had a dog to hang
around our neighborhoods, which makes the reason given
for K9 Trooper death suspicious and outrageous. A dog
will not die in less than 2 hours, if he/she is provided
ventilation, water, and shade. A dog will die if he/she
is left in a car during extreme heat with no air
condition, water or ventilation. I understand that
accidents happen, but this officer needs to first tell
the truth

I heard that the dog was left in his police car, in the
heat with no air condition on, during his death
RD.

I am shocked ! I cannot believe someone could work side
by side with someone like Trooper and not do any better
than that ! Trooper worked for a living didn't he earn
his right to lay on the couch in the A/C ? I understand
there are laws against animal neglect and abuse ? But
aren't there another set of laws that apply here as well
He was a Police Officer ! But I suppose his handler
would b above the law ,Meaning none of these apply or
get enforced ! Yet he can still arrest u and me if we
break one ! Hows come I keep thinking u and me will
never hear the TRUTH .